The United Nations, Its Purposes, Advantages, And Disadvantages

The United Nations is an international organization between countries. It was established on 24 October 1945 in San Francisco, California in the United States. The creation of this organization was after WWII ended and it substituted the League of Nations which was created for a similar purpose after WWI; so, the forerunner of the UN is the League of Nations. Originally, the United Nations had 51 members, but today there are 193 member countries from all around the world. The purposes of the UN are to stimulate global support, to maintain international peace and security, to develop relations among nations to solve all international economic, cultural, humanitarian, and social problems. Moreover, the United Nations as any other organization has goals and purposes and in order to achieve these purposes, the United Nations has six main organs each one is with a different role to set the goals of the organization. So first, the general assembly which is considered as the policymaking and the representative of the UN; where it provides a conference for discussion of global matters. Second, the security council is considered as the most powerful organ in the UN because it is in charge of maintaining international peace and security; this organ specifically determines whether a peace operation is needed or not. Third, the economic and social council is responsible for assisting sophisticated values of living, full employment, financial and societal development, looking for results to universal economic, social, and health problems, and boosting total respect for human rights. Fourth, the trusteeship council’s role is to look after the lands under foreign rule and help them manage independence; but this council was dissolved later in 1994 because all 11 trust territories achieved self-government. Fifth, the international court of justice is the fundamental judicial organ of the UN. The court has two functions which are to resolve legal disagreements proposed by nations and to offer recommended judgments on legal questions authorized by UN organs. Sixth, the secretariat is the UN’s executive arm; this organ administers and coordinates the programs and policies laid down by other organs of the UN.

There are a lot of advantages of the United Nations first, maintaining international peace and security by leading 69 peacekeeping tasks over the past 60 years and it succeeded restoring peace letting countless nations to retrieve from conflict. Second, preventing nuclear proliferation where professionals in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has secured that nuclear material is used only for peaceful purposes by making agreements with more than 180 countries. Third, fighting hunger by creating the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to defeat hunger; also, this particular organization helps in developing countries to improve farming and fishery to preserve natural resources. Fourth, improving literacy and education where there were programs aimed at endorsing teaching and progression for illiterate women. Fifth, promoting human rights where the UN is attentive on cases of torture, dentition, disappearance and other violations that are complained by individuals; so, the UN has been making governments develop their human rights records. Sixth, promoting democracy by encouraging and supporting democratic institutes and practices globally; by assisting people internationally to partake in open and fair elections. Seventh, supporting women’s rights is a long-term objective of the UN; to develop the existence of women and to empower them. Also, strengthening international law by signing more than 560 treaties on refugees, trade, global crime, and human rights. Moreover, assisting refugees by aiding and supporting them; there are over 41 million refugees that receive shelter, food, medical aid, and education.

The United Nations has a lot of benefits and supporters; it is one of the greatest organizations so far found, but the UN is not without its drawbacks and critics. So, the drawbacks and disadvantages of the UN first, lack of democratic mechanism and responsibility where the organization has the same distribution of power since 1945 with five permanent countries that have the VETO power; these countries are USA, UK, France, China, and Russia. Second, absence of a mechanism to authorize judiciaries in the International Court of Justice (ICJ); where there is no world government that would force nations to obey and respect judgments of the court. Third, independent states where the UN is only operative as its members allow it to be. Fourth, ineffective as many people have suffered due to some unsuccessful programs; the support is not enough to eliminate poverty, security issues, and women trafficking. Fifth, biased in a way that its only concern is the major powers with the VETO. Sixth, corruption and mismanagements were committed by some UN officials. Also, no right procedures and laws to be obeyed and followed and the old members refuse to allow new members into the group. Moreover, sexual abuse after that The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeepers were brought in the cases of rape and sex abuse increased a lot.

For the United Nations to be more effective it could start by working for people instead of governments and states. Also, balance the power between the members by fluctuating the veto. Plus, keep going with the peacekeeping reforms. Additionally, ensuring that the UN is fit for sustainable development in many areas such as urban design, renewable angry systems, technological innovation, and ocean health. Furthermore, bringing more members into the group and dissolving the VETO power.

To conclude, the United Nations has a lot of advantages and disadvantages; it’s a seventy-one-year organization that is striking with countless achievements, but also disappointments.